Adding a piece of painted furniture is a refreshing surprise.

Colorful painted furniture brings engagement and interest to a room.

Painted furniture works in almost any room, including living rooms, dining rooms, foyers, bedrooms, bathrooms and more. And what a variety of furniture can be painted, including chairs, bureaus, occasional tables, mirrors, armoires and headboards.

Quality wood furniture that’s varnished or stained – or left natural – to show the beauty of the wood grain is wonderful. But sometimes it’s fun to change it up with a painted piece of furniture as an accent or focal point in a room. It’s a surprising touch that freshens a room. You can paint a piece of furniture yourself, but even better, purchase a piece that’s been professionally painted to make sure you’re adding long-lasting quality and value to your home.

Furniture can be painted in a solid, all-over color or with lots of different effects, including faux finishes, painted patterns, a distressed look or even stencils. Paint can range from shiny, lacquered surfaces to hand-rubbed matte finishes. Some wood furniture lends itself to two-tone paint, with ornamentation or protruding surfaces painted a different color than most of the piece. As a finishing touch, add interesting and unusual handles and pulls!

Think unexpected colors for painted furniture to make a design statement: ebony, whitewash, deep red, acid green, soft pastels, tangerine, turquoise, silver and gold.